Content Area(s): Physical Science, Earth/Space Science Topic: Reversal of the Earth's Magnetic poles Short description: The geological record does not show a connection between polar reversals and catastrophic events. Humans have survived reversals several times in the past and will do so again.
Claim: The next polar reversal should not cause major problems for the inhabitants of Earth.
Keywords: magnetic poles Difficulty of Concept: Hard
MS-ESS2 Earth’s Systems
MS-ESS2-2. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth’s surface at varying time and spatial scales.
MS-ETS1 Engineering Design
MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
Common Core State Standards Connections:
ELA/Literacy
RST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations descriptions.
RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts and reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational text to support analysis, reflection and research.
SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions(one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Vocabulary Words: super storms, earthquakes, extinctions, catastrophic events
Topic of Game Introduction Video: New Questions Description/Application of Game Introduction Video:
This brief movie is used to introduce the concept of asking a new question after reading evidence for a scientific claim before playing the scenario about the reversal of magnetic poles in the Reason Racer game. Evaluating the believability of a claim is a component of scientific argumentation and usually involves students creating counter arguments, rebuttals or asking new questions. It requires students to ask for information that was not given but that should be investigated when making a decision about a claim. Link to Game Introduction Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNe0Kc6SugM
Full Text of Article:
In the future, the Earth's magnetic poles will reverse themselves. What is now the North Pole will become the South Pole and what is now the South Pole will become the North Pole. This phenomenon has happened over and over again during the Earth's history and will most certainly happen again. The Earth's magnetic poles reverse themselves on average every 300,000 years but the actual time between reversals is quite variable. The last reversal was 750,000 years ago so some say we are overdue for another.
Some doomsday theorists are predicting that the next polar reversal will have catastrophic results. Some predict that the Earth's magnetic field will completely disappear for a number of years, thus exposing plants and animals to huge amounts of radiation that are normally shielded by the magnetic field. Doomsday theorists believe that this loss of magnetic field would result in mass extinctions, super-storms and could put all electronic devices (including satellites) at risk. Psychic Edgar Cayce even predicts that a magnetic reversal will cause the Earth to tilt on its axis.
In reality, the next polar reversal will likely have few dramatic effects. There is no evidence that the Earth's magnetic field will completely disappear during a polar reversal. Rather it will probably just weaken and become less organized. There is also no evidence in the geological record of mass extinctions, super-storms, increased glaciations or other catastrophic activity associated with these reversals. There is certainly no evidence to suggest the Earth will tilt on its axis. Author David Gubbins, of the University of Leeds in England, points out that human beings have survived reversals in the past "so we are likely to come through the next one unscathed." Over the past few centuries, the magnetic poles have begun to wander and are weakening in strength. Some suggest that we are in the beginning stages of a polar reversal. If we are there is no cause for alarm. It is estimated that a polar reversal will take up to 1,000 years to complete so we will have plenty of time to adapt.
Clements, Andrew. Jake Drake, Know-It-All. Illus. by Dolores Avendaño. 2001. 96p. Simon & Schuster, $15 (0-689-83918-9); Aladdin, paper, $3.99 (0-689-83881-6). Gr. 2–4. Third-grader Jake and his friend Willie conduct a science fair project using electromagnets. Clements, a former teacher, includes examples of how to formulate a hypothesis and use the scientific method. Full-page black-and-white illustrations open each chapter.
Title: The New North
Content Area(s): Physical Science, Earth/Space ScienceTopic: Reversal of the Earth's Magnetic poles
Short description: The geological record does not show a connection between polar reversals and catastrophic events. Humans have survived reversals several times in the past and will do so again.
Claim: The next polar reversal should not cause major problems for the inhabitants of Earth.
Keywords: magnetic poles
Difficulty of Concept: Hard
Reading Level (Pit Stop 8 Article):
Flesch Reading Ease: 49.7Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level: 10.8
Lexile: 1180
Next Generation Science Standards:
MS-ESS2 Earth’s SystemsMS-ESS2-2. Construct an explanation based on evidence for how geoscience processes have changed Earth’s surface at varying time and spatial scales.
MS-ETS1 Engineering Design
MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
Common Core State Standards Connections:
ELA/LiteracyRST.6-8.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations descriptions.
RST.6-8.8 Distinguish among facts and reasoned judgment based on research findings, and speculation in a text.
WHST.6-8.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.
WHST.6-8.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational text to support analysis, reflection and research.
SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions(one-on-one, in groups, teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Vocabulary Words: super storms, earthquakes, extinctions, catastrophic events
Topic of Game Introduction Video: New Questions
Description/Application of Game Introduction Video:
This brief movie is used to introduce the concept of asking a new question after reading evidence for a scientific claim before playing the scenario about the reversal of magnetic poles in the Reason Racer game. Evaluating the believability of a claim is a component of scientific argumentation and usually involves students creating counter arguments, rebuttals or asking new questions. It requires students to ask for information that was not given but that should be investigated when making a decision about a claim.
Link to Game Introduction Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNe0Kc6SugM
Full Text of Article:
In the future, the Earth's magnetic poles will reverse themselves. What is now the North Pole will become the South Pole and what is now the South Pole will become the North Pole. This phenomenon has happened over and over again during the Earth's history and will most certainly happen again. The Earth's magnetic poles reverse themselves on average every 300,000 years but the actual time between reversals is quite variable. The last reversal was 750,000 years ago so some say we are overdue for another.Some doomsday theorists are predicting that the next polar reversal will have catastrophic results. Some predict that the Earth's magnetic field will completely disappear for a number of years, thus exposing plants and animals to huge amounts of radiation that are normally shielded by the magnetic field. Doomsday theorists believe that this loss of magnetic field would result in mass extinctions, super-storms and could put all electronic devices (including satellites) at risk. Psychic Edgar Cayce even predicts that a magnetic reversal will cause the Earth to tilt on its axis.
In reality, the next polar reversal will likely have few dramatic effects. There is no evidence that the Earth's magnetic field will completely disappear during a polar reversal. Rather it will probably just weaken and become less organized. There is also no evidence in the geological record of mass extinctions, super-storms, increased glaciations or other catastrophic activity associated with these reversals. There is certainly no evidence to suggest the Earth will tilt on its axis. Author David Gubbins, of the University of Leeds in England, points out that human beings have survived reversals in the past "so we are likely to come through the next one unscathed." Over the past few centuries, the magnetic poles have begun to wander and are weakening in strength. Some suggest that we are in the beginning stages of a polar reversal. If we are there is no cause for alarm. It is estimated that a polar reversal will take up to 1,000 years to complete so we will have plenty of time to adapt.
References/Sources:
Additional Content:
Author: Cindy Wilbur